European politicians must decide if they want to save the region’s chemical industry as the wave of energy-intensive closures continues.

- Dow to close cracker at Bohlen, Germany plus two other sites with loss of 800 jobs

- More than 5 million tonnes/year of ethylene capacity now under threat in Europe

- Industry still faces high energy costs, regulatory burdens, unfair competition

- China will continue to add capacity at least to 2030

- China chemical plants running at higher-than-expected operating rates

- Importing ethylene and propylene can be expensive

- Political support will be vital to save Europe’s chemical industry

- New US tariffs may see two-tier chemical markets emerge in Asia

- Uncertainty and chaos likely to persist

LONDON (ICIS)--As geopolitical tensions have cooled, the chemicals industry did not have time to react to the spike in oil prices, and the seasonal demand drop in Europe could be more severe than the traditional summer lull.

• China polypropylene flooding global market, outpacing domestic demand
• Chemicals industry as leading indicator warns of wider economic ill health
• Shutdown of plants in Europe is massive crisis
• Vietnam 20% tariff from US will weigh on both economies
• Risks of US cutting social security, international relief funding
• Key economies not as strong as presented
• Climate change needs to be a priority for businesses
• CEO beset with challenging conditions
• Working patterns reshaped by climate change
• Stark landscape provides opportunities for innovators to thrive

In this Think Tank podcast, Morgan Condon interviews John Richardson from the ICIS market development team, and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting.

In this podcast, market editors Zubair Adam (MX) and Miguel Rodriguez Fernandez (PX, OX) showcase the low levels of consumption in Europe.

China's expansion of its carbon market and the EU's implementation of CBAM are reshaping the landscape for high-emission industries. Steel, aluminum and cement are under increasing pressure to decarbonize, and hydrogen is emerging as a strategic solution.

In this podcast, ICIS analysts Patricia Tao and Lewis Unstead compare China and Europe’s approaches to decarbonizing heavy industry, and discuss the role of hydrogen in this transformation.

LONDON (ICIS)--Europe oxo-alcohols and derivatives markets continue to be blighted weak downstream demand in June with key end-use segments, including automotive, construction and paints and coatings remaining sluggish.

Acrylate esters editor Mat Jolin-Beech talks with glycol ethers editor Cameron Birch and oxo-alcohols and butyl acetate editor Marion Boakye about conditions in these markets and expectations for the near future.

Europe’s chemical distribution sector is bracing for the impact of multiple geopolitical and economic challenges, including the Israel/Iran conflict.

- All Iran’s mono ethylene glycol (MEG), urea, ammonia and methanol facilities have been shut down

- For methanol this represents more than 9% of global capacity, for MEG it is 3%

- Brent crude spiked from $65 to almost $75/bbl, reports of attacks on gas fields and oil infrastructure

- If Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz this will severely disrupt oil and LNG markets

- Expect extended period of volatility and instability in the Middle East

- European distributors brace for a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) world

- Suffer prolonged period of poor demand, in tandem with producers, with no sign of an upturn

- Global overcapacity driven by China, subsequent wave of production closures across Europe both a threat and opportunity for distributors

- Suppliers and customers turn to distributors to help navigate impact of tariffs and geopolitical disruption
Click here to download the 2025 ICIS Top 100 Chemical DIstributors list.

In this ICIS Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews Dorothee Arns, director general of the European Association of Chemical Distributors and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting.

The worst chemicals downturn in living memory is forcing ratings agencies to downgrade more companies and raising fears of bankruptcies.

- Chemical company earnings have been bottom-of-cycle since 2023

- Leverage (borrowing) is high compared to historical levels

- Low earnings increase pressure on leverage, raises risk of default

- Fitch has downgraded more chemical companies over last 12-18 months

- Extended trough in chemicals may lead to bankruptcies

- Operating rates have not recovered as they did after Global Financial Crisis

- Fitch expects gradual recovery from 2026

- A lot more closures needed to rebalance market – could delay recovery

- Ratings agencies look at company costs, strategies and compare to peers

- Diversification of geography and product helps manage risk

In this ICIS Think Tank podcast, Will Beacham interviews Guillaume Daguerre who leads Europe chemicals for ratings agency Fitch, John Richardson from the ICIS market development team, ICIS Insight Editor Tom Brown and Paul Hodges, chairman of New Normal Consulting.
Click here to register for the ICIS/European Association of Chemical Distributors (Fecc) distributors CEO round table on Monday 16 June.

HOUSTON (ICIS)—US polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Markets Reporter Melissa Wheeler, Vice President of the North America PET/Polyester Chain, Antulio Borneo, Senior Recycled Plastics Editor, Emily Friedman, Latin America PET Senior Markets Editor, Daniel Lopes discuss the implications to the virgin PET and recycled PET (R-PET) markets as a result of tariffs and anti-dumping duties.

PET and R-PET market factors discussed include:

• US PET, R-PET demand outlook for peak summer season
• Canada’s anti-dumping duties (ADD) investigation on China, Pakistan
• R-PET, PET production and capacity changes
• Latin America PET protectionism continues